This week, we'd like to you meet one of our graphic designers, Geoff Thomas, and Erin Zurawka, our order provisioning supervisor.

Like all our designers, Geoff is top-notch and dedicated to making your vision a reality. A typical day spans the gamut — creating proofs for customer orders, designing new products, evaluating incoming artwork, creating custom designs and preparing files for printing or running the printing press.

As an administrative leader, Erin is a liaison between our customers and the graphics department. She ensures that orders are moving through the process and assists representatives with questions about orders and artwork.

How long have you been with Magnets USA? Nine years.

What’s the best part of the job? Every day is different.

What are three words that best describe your personality? Creative, unconventional and sarcastic.

What’s the one modern convenience you couldn’t live without? Air-conditioning.

If you were a super hero for a day, what would your power be? To stop time — that way, I could keep my power longer.

How long have you been with Magnets USA? Almost 13 years.

What’s the most rewarding part of the job? Working for a small company, I know my voice is heard. I’ve seen the company grow and improve exponentially based on employee and customer feedback. It’s been a great experience!

If you won $1 million, how would you spend it? Traveling around the world in luxury.

Who's your favorite musician?

Justin Timberlake. I’ve seen him five times in concert in the past year!

Beach or mountains?
Mountains. Snowy mountains. Let it snow!

Where would we be without these two team members? This week, meet Kelly Green, who pulls double-duty as our accounting and human relations manager. But don't let her love of numbers fool you. Kelly is also a professional, award-winning bluegrass musician for Acoustic Endeavors, a group she co-founded in 1992.

Next is our meticulous proofreader, Tara Lincoln. Tara is often our last line of defense for all in-house and customer designs. Everything from spelling and text inaccuracies to graphic issues meet their match under Tara's watchful eye.

How long have you been with Magnets USA? 11 years.

What's the best part of the job? Working with such a fun group of people every day and the diversity of the job. There's never a dull moment in the accounting office.

What's the best gift you've ever received, and what made it so special? My parents bought me a fiddle and a guitar when I was young. I grew up in a musical family. Music has taken me literally all over the world. I've been fortunate to have lived and traveled all over Europe, England and Ireland. I would not have had those opportunities if it wasn't for those two gifts. I have met some very dear lifelong friends because of the music my parents instilled in me as a child.

What's your favorite thing to do in the Roanoke Valley on the weekends? Work in my garden, spend time with my three huge bulldogs (Maybelle, Vassar and Monroe — all named after famous bluegrass musicians) and enjoy the wonderful live music scene.

As a child, what was your dream job? I have always loved numbers, so my dream job was to be in the accounting field. I am so very lucky to be doing exactly what I dreamed of doing when I grew up.

How long have you been with Magnets USA? I've been here eight years now.

What's the most rewarding part of the job?
Having the respect of the designers, even when I correct them all day.

What's the best adventure you've ever been on?
Watching the sea turtles in Costa Rica.
If you could go back and give your 18-year-old self one piece of advice, what would it be? Learn more about the real world; It can't be found in a book.
What's your favorite season?
Fall. I grew up in the mountains and love the colors of the trees and the crispness of the air.

This week, get to know two more lovely people in our Magnets USA family. First up is Jennifer Beishir, manager of programs. If she's not working away on a project, Jennifer can usually be found in meetings. Lots of meetings.

Next, get to know a little about Sharon Stanley, one of our marketing consultants and a former real estate agent. As someone who knows the ins-and-outs of the industry, Sharon is here to help.

How long have you been with Magnets USA? 13 years.

What’s the most rewarding part of the job? I love that I have been able to move up in the company. I started in sales and have moved through our administrative department. I was the trainer for several years and am now the manager of programs (fancy name for project manager). Because of that, I am able to voice my opinion and be heard. I love being able to help form decisions about the company’s direction.

What’s your favorite TV show? Right now, it's “Scandal.” I am definitely someone who can binge-watch a show on Netflix, so it’s whatever I am watching right now. Also love "Big Brother" and “Survivor."

Who in your life inspires you? My dad. My mother passed away when I was young, and my dad and I had always been close, but that brought us closer. He has always been there for me, and he has always shown me unconditional love no matter what. He instilled in me a work ethic that I am proud of and gave me a love of good music and old movies.  He is my hero by simply being a kind and generous person.

What’s one of your favorite childhood memories? When I was about 7, I was staying the weekend with my grandparents and was jumping from various pieces of furniture in their family room. My grandpa came in and watched me climbing up and down and around. When I noticed him, he said, “I won’t tell if you don’t." He laughed and walked away, and I continued climbing until I heard my grandma coming. I don’t think she would have been as accepting of me using her furniture as a jungle gym as my grandpa was.

How long have you been with Magnets USA? Four years in August.

What's the best part of the job? Talking to other REALTORS® and keeping up with the market, as I was a licensed REALTOR® for 20 years. We have an outstanding selection of quality products and items of value that are effective marketing tools for anyone in business.

What's your favorite genre of music? Most all, except rap and opera. I love Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd,  Art Garfunkel, Josh Groban and Moody Blues — too many to name!

What would your perfect day be like? Shopping on 5th Avenue in Naples, Florida, or St. Armand's Circle in Sarasota, then lunch at The Columbia.  Some afternoon beach time and a nap afterwards. Finally, a coastline drive with the top down on my car, to dinner on the beach watching the sun set into the ocean — preferably with a nice gentleman companion.

What's your favorite thing about living in Roanoke? Good restaurants and my mom and daughter are here. Otherwise, I'd live where it's warm all the time. I hate cold weather and snow.

This week, get to know a little about one of our marketing consultants, Jayson McCoy. As a consultant, Jayson handles sales for Arkansas, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina and Canada. He also frequently travels across the country to attend trade shows.

How long have you worked for Magnets USA? One year.

What's the best part of the job? Making connections and friendships from all over the country.

What's your favorite local restaurant? Town Center Tap House in Daleville, Va.

What's your favorite book? It's very cliché of me and it's a recent read, but "UnMarketing" by Scott Stratten. I consider it a must-read for anyone who sells marketing or markets their brand.

What's one of your proudest accomplishments? Being a dad, for sure. My children are my life.

This week, get to know Graphics Manager Susan Gordon and Heywood Thomas, our customer experience supervisor.

Susan manages a staff of eight professional designers, one proofreader and two pressmen. Together, this creative team heads all product designs, customer proofs and printing.

Heywood — one of the first smiling faces you'll see when you come visit us — works with clients who have custom artwork and specific design requests. She's also the mastermind behind our annual multi-family yard and bake sale (this year, all proceeds benefited the MDA and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital).

How long have you been with Magnets USA? 463 weeks, two hours, 53 minutes … give or take a few seconds.

What’s the best part of the job? I work with a wonderful and talented team.

What’s your idea of a perfect day? Going to Rural Retreat, Virginia — a.k.a. “home” — with my family.

What’s the furthest place you’ve traveled? Panama. The country, not the U.S. city.

If you could ask your future self one question, what would it be? "What would you change about your life?"

How long have you been with Magnets USA? A little over two years.

What's the best part of the job? Working with all departments — as well as the clients — to ensure the best results.  

What's your favorite childhood memory? My family owned a Christmas tree farm, and I loved working all year and selling them at Christmas. I still enjoy the smell of sawdust and chainsaw fuel.

What's your idea of perfect getaway? I like being outside and in the sunshine. So a nice remote beach or camping area is ideal for me.

What's your favorite local restaurant? Burger in the Square. Nothing like a good burger!